Police launch massive drive to make ‘Mission Helmet’ a success in KA

HAMREN, Feb 4: The Karbi Anglong Police has taken initiative, as per the SC directive, for two-wheeler riders to use helmet while driving in the district.

The police department has taken this initiative to prevent road accidents and ensure safety of the bike riders as well as other people. They also appealed to the people of Karbi Anglong to cooperate.

During a discussion held as part of the 28th Road Safety Week celebrations held recently in Diphu town and various towns of Karbi Anglong, it was felt that a comprehensive plan needed to be chalked out to curb the mece of rising two-wheeler accidents in the district. The Karbi Anglong district police administration decided to take up this issue on a mission mode and thus ‘Mission Helmet’ of Karbi Anglong Police took shape.

A Whatsapp Group ‘Road Safety: Karbi Anglong’ was also started for the purpose and in no time the group became an active forum of discussion pertaining to the larger issues of road safety. Eventually, a consensus evolved that implementing a regressive policy of imposing fines and pelties on the erring riders would not solve the problem. Instead, an awareness campaign was launched across the district on January 25 whereby huge banners were displayed by the Karbi Anglong Police. The banners stated that wearing helmets was compulsory w.e.f from February 1 and no biker would be allowed to ride motorcycle without helmet. The banner also highlighted the motive behind the campaign by stating taglines like ‘Help us to serve you better’.

Along with the banners, leaflets regarding the initiative were circulated through newspapers. Further, directives were given to petrol pumps not to sell petrol to two wheelers driving without helmets from February 1.

In February, the entire police administration of Karbi Anglong swung into action and all those driving two-wheelers without helmets were detained, kept in police station campuses and it was only after the commuters maged to get their helmets, they were allowed to go. The Karbi Anglong Police is working relentlessly round the clock to make ‘Mission Helmet’ a success and the results are showing. Almost 90 per cent of the commuters are seen wearing helmets these days in the streets of Karbi Anglong. Such has been the effect of the drive that helmets are going off the shelves of the bike accessory shops in no time and apparently, there is shortage of helmets now in the major towns of Karbi Anglong district.

The local people have welcomed the initiative of the district police and they have wholeheartedly supported the police to make this initiative a success.